Game apparatus.



N0. 798,170. PATENTED AUG. 29, 1905.

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GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION IILBD OCT. 23,1903.

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No. 798,170. PATENTED AUG. 29, 1905.

M. S. GROSS.

GAME APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED 001'. 23,1903.

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MARION S. CROSS, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO J. M. HARDEN, OF COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO.

GAME OAPPARATUSV.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 29, 1905.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARION S. CRoss, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in game apparatus, my object being to provide an amusing and interesting game adapted to illustrate or carry out the idea of climbing as of a hill or mountain.

The apparatus is adapted to occupy, preferably, an inclined position, and the structure is provided with openings in which pieces may be placed or stuck during the playing of the game. Suitable rules will be made for the playing of this game; but it is not necessary to go into the details of these rules. The rules, however, will require that all the pieces in the first place are inserted in the lowermost openings on each side of the board. In the beginning of the play each player may move any piece upwardly the distance of a given number of openings, and when any player during the upward movement places his piece in an opening belonging to a horizontal row in which one of his opponents pieces is located the opponent must move his piece downwardly one or more holes. The object to be obtained in playing the game is to get all of the pieces in the uppermost row of holes.

Having briefly outlined my improved construction, I will proceed to describe thesame in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a face view of my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section of the same, shown on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a rear view of the apparatus. Fig. 4 is a view taken at right angles to Figs. 1 and 3, the structure being partly broken away on one side. Fig. 5 is a perspective view ofthe device when closed.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let A designate my improved device as a whole. This device, as shown in the drawings, consists of two members A, hinged together at the center, as shown at A and provided with rearwardly-extending sides A and end parts A and A whereby when the device is in the closed position, as shown in Fig. 5, a box or receptacle is formed containing the game-pieces when not in use. To the rear side of each member A is hinged a leg B,which may be extended, as shown in Fig. 4:, in order to support the device in a suitably-inclined position. Each leg is also provided with achain C, which limits the outward movement of the leg in a manner that will be readily understood. The two members A when in the position for use, as shown in Figs. 1 and at, form substantially an integral device. The division-line, however, between the two members separates the playing-face of the device into two parts, each part being used by one of the players. This face portion of the device isprovided with openings D, in which may be placed pieces E, which may be of any suitable construction. These pieces, as shown in the drawings, consist simply of pegs. It is evident that the shape or design of the pieces is of little consequence. The holes D are inclined to the plane of the board to prevent the pieces from falling out when inserted. The openings D are arranged in straight lines which intersect each other. These rows of openings in one direction extend in the same line on both sides of the board, while the openings extending in the other direction are the same distance apart on both sides of the board. The upwardlyextending rows of openings are numbered, as shown in the drawings, from 1 to i 10, inclusive, the numbers on one side of the board being from 1 to 5 and on the other side of the board from 6 to 10. The game may be played by the use on the part of each player of five pieces or less or even more than fivedpieces may be used by each person, if desire In using the device the live pieces belonging to each player are all placed in the lowermost horizontal row of openings. The playing then commences, the object of each being to reach the top of the board with his pieces before his opponent.

As shown in the drawings, the playing-face of the game apparatus is wider at one end than the other, whereby the upwardly-extending rows of holes approach each other as they approach the top of the board. This adds interest to the game, since it brings out to some extent the idea of mountain-climbing.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is A game apparatus comprising a board divided on a line perpendicular to its base, its two members being hinged to fold on said line, its opposite side edges being inclined whereby they approach each other from the base toward the top, the board being provided with openings whose direction is inclined to the plane of the board and which are largest at the face and diminish in size toward its opposite surface, the openings being arranged in transverse and longitudinal intersecting row's,

and pieces shaped to fit the openings and projecting from the face of the board, the rear surface of the board being thickened at its edges to form a receptacle when the members are folded rearwardly, hinged legs connected with the rear surface of the respective members and constructed to be concealed when the board is folded, and flexible devices connect ing the legs with the members below the hinges to limit the outward movement of the legs.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARION S. CROSS. 

